February was such a long month to me because… I have become a father. A lot of new things I must learn and do for my little girl thus I had no time to look after this blog for a while. What surprised me was traffic doubled in February though I didn’t write anything new lol

Ok, the activity tracker I choose to review today is the Fitbit Alta. Though this activity tracker was released a year ago but it’s still the bestseller in Amazon. Why’s that? And should you buy it? Check out my review below.

Fitbit Alta Release Date

Fitbit Alta was released in March, 2016. If you want to catch up with the latest activity tracker of Fitbit, consider Fitbit Charge 2 which were launched in September, 2016.

Fitbit Alta Price

Fitbit Alta is under the same price range with Fitbit Charge HR and Samsung Gear Fit 2. It’s $30 more expensive than Garmin vivosmart HR and Pebble 2+HR and $20 cheaper than Fitbit Charge 2. I will compare Fitbit Alta with these devices to help you understand its pros and cons.

Fitbit Alta – What’s in the box?

Fitbit Alta Design Review

The selling point of Alta is that it’s the slimmest activity tracker having an OLED display screen. You can name some sleek stylish activity tracker, such as: Misfit Ray or Fitbit Flex 2 but those all lack a screen, making it inconvenient to view data. The Alta though is just 15mm in width displays all information right on the band. Besides, the band is interchangeable, which means you can switch to metal, leather or classic bands that fit your personal style. The tracker comes in black, blue, plum, and teal.

The specialty in design explains why the Alta doesn’t have as many functions as the Fitbit Charge HR but is priced equally. If you want something fashionable and keep you active, the Alta is really a good choice, especially for female.

Fitbit Alta Features Review – Pros and Cons

Fitbit Alta Pros

Activity tracking: Like other activity trackers, the Alta allows you to track your steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity & stationary time, and remind you to move to stay active. Fitbit Alta also has Smart track feature (can be found in other Fitbit trackers) that automatically recognizes and records exercises for you, so you can keep track of your workouts without ever pushing a button.Sleep tracking: It automatically tracks how long and how well you sleep. It doesn’t give you information of deep and light sleep like Jawbone trackers, but you can see your sleep trends and get on a better routine.Battery life: Fitbit Alta is said to last up to 5 days, same battery life as the Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin vivosmart HR. Meanwhile, Pebble 2+HR can last up to 7 days thanks to its monochrome display. However I don’t think this is a big deal, 5 days are good enough for an OLED activity tracker.

Fitbit Alta Cons

Waterproof: Don’t take it for a shower or a swim because Fitbit Alta is just splash proof. Fitbit Charge HR and even the later Fitbit Charge 2 are not waterproof either. So consider Garmin vivosmart HR or Samsung Gear Fit 2 if this feature is a must-have to you. Or if you’re a Fitbit fan, your choice comes down to Fitbit Flex 2, the only activity tracker of Fitbit that is safe for swimming.

No floors climbed tracking: The Alta lacks the altimeter which can be found in the Fitbit Charge HR or Charge 2, thus it doesn’t measure the number of floors you have climbed. If you want to measure stairs or height to push you to take the hills rather than the flat, consider Fitbit Charge HR, Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin Vivosmart HR instead.

Notification: You can see smart notifications at a glance. But if you miss a text/call on your Fitbit, you cannot find it after it’s been missed. You’ll need to look on your phone for that info. Besides, if the text is long or if you have the persons’ name as something really long, that takes up the characters of what is allowed.

Fitbit Alta Review Conclusion

What makes Fitbit Alta the best seller activity tracker is its sleek design. It looks like an accessory on your wrist but totally can replace a smartwatch and keep you more active. However, if you want a tracker for your training (eg: running, cycling, swimming), Fitbit Alta cannot meet your requirement as it doesn’t have heart rate monitor and is not waterproof. In this case, you might want to consider Garmin vivosmart or Fitbit Charge HR or Fitbit Charge 2 (check out my post of Fitbit Charge 2).

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I’m Samuel PC. I created this blog to Review pros and cons of Fitness Trackers and Smart Watch compared with other devices in the same price range. It would help you choose one that perfectly fits you. Believe me, you don't have time to read details of every wearable in the world.
To support me maintaining this website, buying things (anything) in Amazon via my links would bring me some commission. Thanks a lot!